Tag Archives: Valencia marathon

Athletics

Kevin Kiptum signs a multi-million dollar contract with Chinese firm

The reigning Valencia Marathon champion, Kevin Kiptum has struck a multi-million dollar contract with a Chinese Sports Brand, China Qiaodan Sports.

The 23 year-old ran the second fastest time in the world last year when he destroyed the entire field at Valencia cutting the tape in a life time best and new course record time of 2:01 54, erasing the previous record of 2:03.00 that had been set in 2020 by his compatriot Evans Kibet. This time today is the fourth fastest time after Kenenisa Bekele and Eliud Kipchoge.

It’s rumored that Kiptum penned down in Malaysia a whopping $1 million dollar contract with Sports firm.

If the said contract is true then it will be the first time that a Chinese sports brand has successfully signed a top runner in the world.

Twelve years ago this firm Qiaodan Sports Company was sued by Michael Jordan over the use of his name in Chinese. According to a judge, the apparel and footwear manufacturer had used the name for products and promotional material without permission and with the intent of misleading customers.

Jordan was paid $46,000 for ‘Emotional Damages’.

Athletics

Amane Beriso threatens Brigid Kosgei World Record at Valencia Marathon

Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso threatened the Women World Record when she ran the second fastest time in the World at the at 42nd edition of the Valencia Marathon held on Sunday (04) in Valencia, Spain.

The 31 yerar-old who came to this race with lifetime best of 2:20.48 that she got at the Dubai Marathon where she finished in second. Beriso beat the race favorite Letesenbet Gidey when she cut the tape with a new course record  time of 2:14.58 erasing the old record of  2:17.16 that was set in 2020 by Olympic Marathon champion Peres Jepchichir.

Gidey who was making her debut over the distance, set two of her four world records in Valencia in the 5000m with 14:06.02 in 2020 and in the half marathon with 1:02.52 in 2021, was forced to settle in second place with a lifetime best of 2:16.49.

Kenya’s Shelia Chepkurui who was making her debut over the marathon distance after setting her half-marathon best of 1:04:36 in Ras Al Khaimah, set the fastest time indebut when she crossed the line in tird in atime of 2:17.29.

Another Ethiopian Tadu Teshome finished in fourth with Fancy Chemutai coming home in fifth in a time of 2:17.36 and 2:18.11 respectively. Both athletes pulled life time bests

Athletics

Kelvin Kiptum runs second fastest time in world in Valencia Marathon

Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum made his debut memorable when he ran the second fastest time this year in the world at 42nd edition of the Valencia Marathon held on Sunday (04) in Valencia, Spain.

The 23 year-old destroyed the entire field when he cut the tape in a new course record time of 2:01 54 destroying the previous course record time of 2:03.00 that was set in 2020 by Evans Kibet from Kenya.

The sixth fastest Tanzanian, Gabriel Geay also took the suprise second when he he crossed the line with a life time best of 2:03.29 with ALexander Mutiso from Kenya who was also making his debut closing the podium three finishes in a personal best of 2:03.40.

Reigning world marathon champion Tamirat Tola found going too tough as the new kids on the block punished him severly as he came home in fourth in 2:04.36 with former Kenyan now Turkeys citizen  Kaan Kigen Özbilen (Mike Kipruto Kigen) crossing the finish line in fifth in 2:04.36

 

Athletics

Jonathan Korir, the man to watch in Valencia

Kenya’s Jonathan Korir will lead a strong Kenyan elite team at the 42nd edition of the Valencia Marathon that will be held on December 4, 2022 in Valencia, Spain.

The 35-year-old who trains with world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge at Global Sports Communication camp in Kaptagat, comes to this race with the fastest time on paper of 2:04.32 that he got last year at the Amsterdam Marathon where he finished in fourth place.

Korir who also finished fifth at the Commonwealth Games marathon will battle for honors with his compatriots, former World marathon champion Geoffrey Kiruithe, former Santa Pola International Half Marathon champion Alexander Mutiso, Bahrain Night Half Marathon champion Philemon Kiplimo and Kelvin Kiptum

The reigning Maratón BP Castellón champion, Ronald Korir who holds a personal best of 2:07.29 and Bethwell Kipkemboi of 2:07.41 and the 2021 fourth finisher at Eindhoven Marathon Simon Kipkosgei have been included in the start list to fight for the podium.

The race organizer have selected this team to try and chase the race course record of 2:03.00 that was set I n 2020 by Evans Kibet from Kenya.

Athletics

Sheila Chepkirui to make her marathon debut

The reigning Commonwealth Games 10,000m bronze medalist, Sheila Chepkirui Kiprotich will be making her marathon debut at the 42nd edition of the Valencia Marathon that will be held on December 4, 2022 in Valencia, Spain.

The 31 year-old who is also the 2016 African 5000m champion, will battle for honors with her compatriots Monica Ngige and Fancy Chemutai who have more experience on the roads that the latter.

Ngige who made her marathon debut last year at the Boston marathon, comes to this race with the fastest time on paper of 2:22.13 that she got this year in April at the same race.

The two will also face-off with the most experienced road runner Chemutai who comes to this race with a personal best of 2:24.27 that she got at this event in 2020.

The race organisers have put together a strong deep elite field to try and see if they can lower the course record of 2:17.16 that was set in 2020 by the Olympic marathon champion, Peres Jepchirchir.

Athletics

Four world-record holder to debut in marathon

Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist, Letesenbet Gidey, the world-record holder in 5000m, 10,000m and the half marathon, will make her marathon debut at the 41st edition of the Valencia Marathon that will be held on Dec, 4, 2022 in Valencia, Spain.

The 24 year-old broke the 5000m world record in Valencia in October 2020, and then broke the half marathon world record in Valencia last October.

Gidey who also holds the 15km world record of 44:20 world best that she set in 2019 in Nijmegen, Netherlands, announced On May 11, on her Instagram page that she will be stepping up to the marathon distance.

Valencia is one of the best marathons for producing fast times. In 2020, Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir took honors at the event with the sixth fastest time in history of 2:17.16.

According to Jack Daniels VDOT performance tables, which predict an athlete’s performance based on previous performance, Gidey’s half marathon world record of 1:02:52 translates to a sub 2:12 marathon.

Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei currently holds the world record for the marathon with 2:14:04, which she set in 2019 at the Chicago Marathon.

Last month, Yalemzerf Yehualaw ran the fastest debut marathon in history of 2:17.23 in Hamburg, Germany, which also became the new Ethiopian National Record.

Neither of the two preceding world-record holders in the 10,000m — Ethiopian Almaz Ayana and Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan — have run a marathon.

Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba, who preceded Gidey as 5000m world-record holder, won the 2017 Chicago Marathon and last raced in 2018.

Kenyan women, once in a rivalry with Ethiopians, have recently dominated, winning eight of the last nine World Marathon Majors.

Gidey will use the Valencia’s flat and fast marathon course, to try and chase Kosgei’s world record which could be under threat.

Athletics

Nancy Jelagat wins the 2021 Valencia Marathon

Kenya’s Nancy Jelagat won the Valencia women marathon in style as she demolished a strong field of elite women taking the title at the 41st edition of the Valencia Marathon that was held on Sunday (5) in Valencia, Spain.

Jelagat completed a Kenyan double in Valencia as she won the women race with a huge personal best of 2:19.31 as she joins the 2:19 club from 2:36.22 that she got at the 2015 Taipei Marathon.

the Kenyan was followed by Etagegnl Woldu from Ethiopia who crossed the line in 2:20.16.

Beyenu Degefa also from Ethiopia closed the first three podium finishes in 2:23.04.

Ethiopia’s Rahma Tusa and and Fionnuala Mccormacfrom Ireland finished in fourth and fifth place in 2:23.20 and 2:23.58 respectively.

LEADING RESULTS

42KM WOMEN

  1. Nancy Jelegat              (KEN) 2:19.31
  2. Etagegnl Woldu          (KEN) 2:20.16
  3. Beyenu Degefa            (ETH) 2:23.04
  4. Rahma Tusa                 (ETH) 2:23.20
  5. Fionnuala Mccormac  (IRE) 2:23.58
Athletics

Lawrence Cherono wins Valencia Marathon

Kenya’s Lawrence Cherono took the top honors at the 41st edition of the Valencia Marathon that was held on Sunday (5) in Valencia, Spain.

Cherono was forced into a sprint finish but he was too good with his feet as he out-sprinted Chalu Deso from Ethiopia to cut the tape in 2:05.12.

The 33 year-old was followed closely by Deso who crossed the line four seconds later.

Philemon Kacheran from Kenya closed the first three podium finishes in 2:05.19.

The race favorite and former world half marathon record holder Geoffrey Kamworor finished finished a disappointing fourth in 2:05.23. Ethiopia’s Abebe Negewo finished in fifth in 2:05.27.

LEADING RESULTS

42KM MEN

  1. Lawrence Cherono     (KEN) 2:05.12
  2. Chalu Deso                  (ETH) 2:05.16
  3. Philemon Kacheran   (KEN) 2:05.19
  4. Geoffrey Kamworor   (KEN) 2:05.23
  5. Abebe Negewo            (ETH) 2:05.27
Athletics

Fastest times targeted as Geoffrey Kamworor added on Valencia Marathon elite list

Former World Half Marathon record holder Geoffrey Kamworor has been added on the star elite list of the 41st Edition of the Valencia Marathon that will be held in December, 5, 2021 in Valencia, Spain.

The 28 year-old has three World Athletics Half Marathon Championships gold medals under his belt, and he is back on the roads following his recovery from surgery after he was hit by a motorcycle in June last year.

The 2015 World silver medallist in 10,000m carries a personal best of 2:06.12 that he got at the 2012 at the Berlin Marthon.

Kamworor’s world half marathon record time was bettered by each of Kibiwott Kandie, Jacob Kiplimo, Rhonex Kipruto, and Alexander Mutiso at the 2020 Valencia Half Marathon and Kandie is the new half marathon world record holder.

Last year’s edition of this race featured elite athletes and four runners broke the previous course record of 2:03.51, with Evans Chebet setting a new course record of 2:03.00, the sixth-fastest marathon at the time.

Chebet’s victory also ensured that a Kenyan topped the podium again for the 18th time in the last 40 editions of the Valencia Marathon.

The race organisers have put together one of the strongest team to challenge the current course record of 2:03.00, which is the fourth fastest time in the world. Kamworor will battle for honors alongside Lawrence Cherono and Amos Kipruto, and the Ethiopians Mule Wasihun, Getaneh Molla, Kinde Atanaw and Andamlak Belihu.

The race selector of the International Elite athletes of the Valencia Marathon, Marc Roig, said, “This year’s marathon is extremely competitive, as we like in Valencia. I do not rule out an arrival to the sprint in male and, in fact, I am counting on it. Athletes know that Valencia offers one of the best circuits to achieve a personal best. And this, with the level of runners we have, can easily translate into several athletes breaking the circuit record. How much? We will see this on December 5”.

Athletics

Marius Kimutai, Mathew Kisorio Face Off In Valencia

Two times Rotterdam marathon champion Marius Kimutai and two time Africa Athletics champion Mathew Kisorio will face off in this year’s Valencia marathon to be staged on 2nd December in Spain.

 Speaking on Saturday after competing at the anti-Rabbis race, second edition of Rabbis Free Kenya 10km Road Run held on Saturday in Nandi County, the duo were optimistic they will be carrying the title back home.

Valencia marathon has been dominated by Kenyans and for the last eight years in a row, Kenyans have been winning the title with Sammy Kitwara holding the course record of 2:05.15 after winning the 2017 title.

The 2017 Amsterdam marathon champion, Kimutai won the race Kimutai in 27:02.02 ousting 2017 Daegu marathon champion Kisorio, who will be competing together in Valencia.

Boosting of his personal best in 42kk at 2:05.47 when he won the 2016 Amsterdam marathon, Kimutai said he competed in the race as part of training ahead of Valencia among other short races in the country.

“Today’s race was too competitive and never knew that I will win but winning was not in focus since I have set my focus to compete in Valencia. Today was my training,” said Kimutai.

Kimutai won the Rotterdam marathon in 2016 before defending his title in 2016 as Kenneth Kipkemoi won in 2017.

He added that the route has always been part of his training course daily and understand it better that was great for him to win.

Kisorio, who won the Africa 5,000m and 10,000m junior titles finished second timing 27:07.06 while upstart Edward Kibet completed the podium.

“I did not plan to compete in this race but I saw it good, since the race course passes near my home, I decided to run as part of my training. This is a good motivation to young people who can emulate me and take athletics seriously, knowing that event those athletes who compete abroad can also take part in this region,” said Kisorio.

Elsewhere former world half marathon bronze medalist Pascalia Jepkorir is set to compete in one of the races in China.

Jepkorir defeated Joyce Chepkemei to lift the title following her second stab locally arranged road races, ran shoulder to shoulder with Jepkemei after they stepped into the lead at 4km. But experienced Jepkorir sped off to win in 32:12 while Chepkemei was second in 32:22 before Betty Lembus completed the podium clocking 32:42.

“I will be going to China for a marathon so this was part of my training. At the same time, this is my home and I had to compete well,” said Jepkorir who was in the Kenya team for the 2018 world half marathon in Valencia.

Source: dailysport.co.ke